HONG KONG (SE): Refugee families were given a warm welcome to Caritas Wu Cheng-chung Secondary School in Pokufulam by the principal, Stephen Chen Sun-hang, on May 28, for an introductory session to the special services the school provides for non-Chinese-speaking students in Hong Kong.

Chen, together with the Christian Action-Humanitarian Services, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Our Lady of Lourdes parish and Father Franco Mella, representing the Street Sleepers Action Committee, contacted families with children of school age and issued invitations to attend the afternoon.

The families were bused to the school from Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei and To Ka Wan.

Chan opened the programme with a welcome in the school hall and a run down on what he described as the unique learning atmosphere the school has to offer.

The group of parents and their children were then addressed by non-Chinese students from the school on their own perspectives and experiences of what they described as the multicultural and inclusive atmosphere of the student body.

They shared personal experiences that reflect the caring nature of the school community.

Students and teachers then took the visiting families on an extensive tour of the school campus.

Visitors were impressed with what they saw in the library, science laboratories, visual arts centre, music room, catering services room, gymnasium, English learning centre and computing rooms.

The guests were then joined by their student hosts, together with some staff, at a buffet luncheon served in the canteen, after which both children and parents let their hair down in a few ball games on the rooftop and then tried their hand at a bit of arts and crafts together.

The parents were also invited to an information session where they met the principal, vice principal and some teachers. This was followed by a one-on-one question-and-answer session in which detailed responses to particular enquiries were given.

The day was described as most relaxing and enjoyable, with the added value of offering a viable option to people in a difficult situation to find suitable education places for their children.